Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A misgrip sensor cooperates with a support member, the support member being of the type having an arm for supporting a workpiece during a plurality of forming operations. The sensor detects improper engagement of a workpiece by the support arm and includes a support housing, a contact rod journaled in the front and rear walls of the housing for rectilinear movement and having a collar mounted thereon, a proximity switch mounted on the housing adjacent to the rod for generating a signal indicating proper engagement of a workpiece by the arm, a sensor plate slidably mounted on the rod between the front wall of the housing and the proximity switch and first and second springs which act in opposition to urge the sensor plate against the contact rod collar at an equilibrium position coincident with a non-actuation position spaced from the proximity switch. Displacement of the contact rod toward a rear wall of the housing by a workpiece engaged by the support arm such that the collar is displaced between the actuation position and the rear wall enables the first spring to urge the sensor plate from the non-actuation position to an actuation position, and subsequent, relatively minor movements of the contact rod and collar do not displace the sensor plate from the actuation position so that false signals from the proximity switch are prevented. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor includes a stop, fixed to the housing, which holds the sensor plate a predetermined distance from the proximity switch in the actuation position.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim